Tour 2016 - A family Trip

Kieran Trippier will follow in the footsteps of his brother when he runs out in Melbourne this month.

The right-back is gearing up for our week-long trip Down Under where we’ll face Juventus and Atletico Madrid in the International Champions Cup at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground.

It’s a part of the world that Kieran and his family knows well, with his older sibling Kelvin having turned out for Australian Regional Premier League side Shepparton United between 2013 and 2014.

The former Oldham defender, 29, had two seasons at the club, based a little way outside Melbourne, and scored the winning goal in their 1-0 grand final victory over Shepparton South in September, 2014, before returning to the UK.

Kieran visited Kelvin (pictured, below) in Melbourne three years ago and he says he has happy memories of the region ahead of our upcoming tour.

“My brother used to play football out there so I’ve been to Melbourne to see him,” recalled Kieran, who joined us from Burnley last summer.

“It’s a great place to go. When Kelvin was there he played a couple of leagues below the A-League and he enjoyed it but in the end he realised it was just too far from home.

“He played for Oldham, Shrewsbury, Chesterfield and Rochdale as well so he’s had a good few games in the Football League but obviously Australia was something a little bit different.

“Melbourne is a beautiful place, it was a really good experience when I went before and it will be great for us all to go out there and play against two tough sides.”

Kieran, who was among the first group of players to report back to Hotspur Way after the summer break at the start of this month, reckons the chance to play against Juve and Atletico will come as a real benefit to the squad amid what has already been a gruelling pre-season campaign.

“Obviously we’ve got Champions League football this season and we’re playing two quality sides out there so they’ll be great games for us,” added the 25-year-old.

“They’re matches that we’re all looking forward to and we’ll be trying to get the win in both.

“I think pre-season has been going well so far. We knew exactly how tough the training was going to be and it’s no shock how hard it has been but it’s pre-season – that’s what it’s there for. The lads are looking to get fit and get ready for the new season and now I think everybody’s really excited for the trip that we’ve got coming up.

“Melbourne is a great place and we’re looking forward to going out there and continuing the hard work.”